Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.

We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.

A note about links

Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.


The Attack on Human Rights Watch *

Oct 14th, 2006 | Filed by

Attacks on HRW’s credibility make rational discussion increasingly difficult.… Read the rest



The Freedom to Choose to be Compelled *

Oct 14th, 2006 | Filed by

‘The veil is really important to all Muslim women who choose to wear it. Our religion compels us to wear it.’… Read the rest



Dalits Bail Out of Hinduism *

Oct 14th, 2006 | Filed by

By converting, Dalits can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face. … Read the rest



Sanjeev Srivastava on Kanshi Ram *

Oct 14th, 2006 | Filed by

Ram united Dalits into a formidable political force in several states.… Read the rest



Catherine Bennett on Clothes and Freedom *

Oct 14th, 2006 | Filed by

What does freedom mean, if it doesn’t mean being free to oppress yourself? … Read the rest



Johann Hari Talks to Salman Rushdie *

Oct 13th, 2006 | Filed by

The mass uprooting he celebrated helped to create the Islamist pining for a fictitious lost purity.… Read the rest



Women on the Niqab *

Oct 13th, 2006 | Filed by

Joan Smith urges Garton Ash to catch up on his feminist reading.… Read the rest



Thomas Nagel: the Problem with Atheism *

Oct 13th, 2006 | Filed by

One of Dawkins’s aims is to overturn the convention of respect toward religion.… Read the rest



Steven Pinker on George Lakoff *

Oct 13th, 2006 | Filed by

The ubiquity of metaphor in language does not imply that all thinking is concrete.… Read the rest



Scott McLemee on I F Stone *

Oct 12th, 2006 | Filed by

Stone tells Soviet citizens that the “thaw” will mean nothing if they don’t acquire the right of habeas corpus. … Read the rest



To Tell the Truth – Scott McLemee on I F Stone *

Oct 12th, 2006 | Filed by

Hoover’s agents despaired of ever establishing a connection between Stone and the CPUSA.… Read the rest



Orhan Pamuk Wins Nobel for Literature *

Oct 12th, 2006 | Filed by

He has faced prosecution for talking about the murder of Armenians and Kurds.… Read the rest



Busted for Criticizing Cheney to His Face *

Oct 12th, 2006 | Filed by

Secret Service arrests guy for telling Cheney ‘Your policies in Iraq are reprehensible.’… Read the rest



UK Government Withdraws Support From MCB *

Oct 12th, 2006 | Filed by

Kelly said in future she would fund organisations representing young Muslims and Muslim women.… Read the rest



Houzan Mahmoud Says It’s not a Matter of Choice *

Oct 11th, 2006 | Filed by

Not just a bit of cloth: a sign of the oppression of women and submissiveness to the will of God or a man.… Read the rest



Kiran Desai Wins Booker Prize *

Oct 11th, 2006 | Filed by

For The Inheritance of Loss.… Read the rest



Ethiopian Women World’s Most Abused *

Oct 11th, 2006 | Filed by

UN’s Ending Violence Against Women report says nearly 60% are subject to sexual violence.… Read the rest



UN Urges Global Backing for Violence Report *

Oct 11th, 2006 | Filed by

Painting a grim picture of the extent of violence against women in all parts of the world.… Read the rest



Rushdie Says Veils Suck; Guardian Frowns *

Oct 11th, 2006 | Filed by

‘[H]is comments have angered moderate and extremists within the Muslim community.’… Read the rest



Everything Must Be Tolerated, David Edgar Says *

Oct 11th, 2006 | Filed by

‘Sorry, but we can’t just pick and choose what to tolerate.’ Interesting notion.… Read the rest